Boston’s Best Ways To Celebrate Mother’s Day

Boston is a great city when it comes to taking mom out for a good time, no matter the age of her children. There are fun things to do with adult children, fun treats for her to do alone, things to do with small children and things to do as a family. Whether spouses or kids are on a budget or splurging, there is something as well. In fact, some of the best ways to spend Mother’s Day in Boston are free, though bringing along a picnic lunch is always a good idea.

Bella Sante is one of the most revered spas in Boston. Moms can get spa massages, facials, pedicures, manicures, full body treatments and more. If mom wants to go beyond basic spa treatments, she can also have skin peels. Dads can help young moms celebrate by giving them a day to relax. Bella Sante also offers prenatal massage so expectant mothers can have all of the aches and pains of carrying a baby rubbed away. When it comes to adult children, spending a day at the spa is a great way to get quality, relaxing time with mom.

The Duckling Day Parade is a long-standing tradition that is one of the favorite ways to spend Mother’s Day with small children in Boston. Most of the festivities take place in Boston Common with the parade ending in the Boston Public Garden, where the “Make Way for Ducklings” sculpture commemorates Robert McCloskey’s classic storybook. Families can buy reduced admission ahead of time or pay full price on Mother’s Day. The ticket gives families access to face painting, free massages for mom, play equipment and actors dressed as characters from the book. Then, the children get to march through the Common to the garden on parade!

“Pricked” is a triple bill from the Boston Ballet running over eight performances in May 2014. Included in this trio of ballets is “Etudes” by Harald Lander, which the Boston Ballet calls a “highly visual homage to classic technique.” Also included are Alexander Ekman’s internationally successful “Cacti” and Zuska’s very emotive “D.M.J 1953-1977.” There is only one showing on Mother’s Day, at 1 p.m., but there are seven other showings for moms who are unable to make it Sunday afternoon. It is a very ambitious show that ballet fan mothers are sure to enjoy.

Somewhere along the way, Mother’s Day became all about brunch. One of the best places to do that with mom on her special day is The Beehive. Sunday brunch starts at 10:30 a.m. and runs until 3 p.m. The food is accompanied by live jazz music. As the music and atmosphere is appropriate for all ages, it is okay to bring along young children and grandchildren to make a family event out of the celebration. Dishes include options from the seafood bar, thick-cut French toast, eggs Benedict and much more.

Boston by Little Feet is a walking tour designed with children from ages six to 12 in mind. It begins at Faneuil Hall and covers several historic sites, such as the site of the Boston Massacre, the Old State House and the Old South Meeting House. It is not very long, as children may not hold up on the long walking tours. However, it is ideally situated at Faneuil Hall near the North End, so moms can do a short walking tour and then enjoy a lunch at one of the dozens of restaurants within a few minutes walk from the tour.

Shelly Barclay is a professional freelance writer and amateur author. She writes on a variety of topics from food to mysteries. She loves to share the culture and rich history of her birthplace and home, Boston, with the rest of the world. Her work can be found at Examiner.com.